Electrical connector with safety load lever

ABSTRACT

An LGA connector ( 1 ) includes a connector body ( 2 ) fixed on a PCB ( 6 ), a clip ( 3 ), and a load lever ( 4 ). The connector body defines a plurality of passageways ( 230 ) receiving terminals therein. The load lever includes an operational arm ( 43 ), a pair of pivot axles ( 41 ) having an offset pressing portion ( 42 ) therebetween and extending from one end of the operational arm, and an operational portion ( 44 ). The operational portion includes a bending portion ( 441 ) bending from an opposite end of the operational arm, and a handle ( 442 ) extending from a distal end of the bending portion and being parallel to the operational arm. When the connector is in a closed state, a distant between the handle and the PCB is greater than a distant between the operational arm and the PCB. This configuration prevents an operator&#39;s hand from being abraded or hurt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an electrical connector forelectrically connecting an electronic package such as a land grid array(LGA) chip with a circuit board such as a printed circuit board (PCB),and particularly to an LGA electrical connector with a load lever and aconnector body. This application is related to other twocontemporaneously filed applications having the same title, the sameapplicant and the same assignee with the instant invention, and alsorelates to the copending application Ser. No. 10/443,611 with one sameapplicant and the same assignee.

2. Description of Prior Art

Land grid array (LGA) electrical connectors are widely used in personalcomputer (PC) systems to electrically connect LGA chips with printedcircuit boards (PCBs). A typical LGA electrical connector comprises aninsulative housing, a multiplicity of terminals received in the housingin a rectangular array, a metal load plate pivotally mounted to thehousing, and a load lever attached to the housing. This kind of LGAelectrical connector is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,280,222 and6,485,320.

FIG. 5 shows a conventional LGA connector 7. The connector 7 comprisesan insulative housing 71 fixed on a PCB (not shown), an operationallever 73 engaged with the housing 71, and a metal clip 72 mounted to thehousing 71. The housing 71 defines a plurality of passageways (notshown) receiving a plurality of terminals (not shown) therein, andcomprises a curved projection 712 extending from a side portion (notlabeled) thereof. The clip 72 comprises a hook portion 721 protrudingfrom one end thereof. The lever 73 comprises a pair of axles 731 havinga pressing portion 732 therebetween, and an operational arm 733extending perpendicularly from an end of one of the axles 731. In use,the connector 7 is firstly oriented to be in an open state, with theclip 72 perpendicular to the housing 71 and the pressing portion 732 ofthe lever 73 at a highest position. An LGA chip 74 is then put into thehousing 71. Then, the connector 7 is adjusted to be in a closed state,with: the clip 72 abutting the LGA chip 74; the pressing portion 732 ofthe lever 73 pressing the hook portion 721 of the clip 72; and theprojection 712 of the housing 71 hooking the operational arm 733 of thelever 73. Thus, the LGA chip 74 is stably received in the connector 7,and accordingly is connected with the PCB.

During adjustment of the connector 7 from the open state to the closedstate, an operator (not shown) must manually operate the operational arm733 of the lever 73. A distance between the housing 71 and the PCB is aconstant. When the operational arm 733 has reached a horizontal positionin the closed state, so that a distance between the operational arm 733and the PCB is a constant. This latter constant is so small that theoperator frequently bumps or interferes with the PCB and/or theconnector 7. There are no means to increase the distance betweenoperational arm 733 and the PCB. Thus, during the operation of theoperational arm 733, the operator's hand is prone to be abraded or hurt.

A new electrical connector that overcomes the above-mentioned problemsis desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an electrical connectorhaving a load lever with a handle that helps prevent an operator's handfrom being abraded or hurt.

In order to achieve the above object, an electrical connector inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprises a connector body fixed on a circuit substrate, a metal clippivotally mounted to the connector body, and a load lever attached tothe connector body. The connector body defines a plurality ofpassageways receiving a plurality of terminals therein. The load levercomprises an operational arm, a pair of pivot axles having a pressingportion therebetween and extending from one end of the operational arm,and an operational portion. The operational portion comprises a bendingportion bending from an opposite end of the operational arm, and ahandle extending from a distal end of the bending portion and beingparallel to the operational arm. When the connector is in a closedstate, a distant between the handle and the circuit substrate is greaterthan a distant between the operational arm and the circuit substrate.This configuration prevents an operator's hand from being abraded orhurt.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified, exploded isometric view of an electricalconnector in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled view of FIG. 1; and showing the electricalconnector mounted on a PCB, an LGA chip received in the electricalconnector, and a cover and a lever of the electrical connector inrespective first positions;

FIG. 3 is similar to FIG. 2, but showing the cover and the lever inrespective second positions;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a simplified, exploded isometric view of a conventionalelectrical connector, and showing an LGA chip received in the electricalconnector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the presentinvention in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an LGA electrical connector 1 in accordancewith the preferred embodiment of the present invention is adapted forelectrically connecting an electronic package such as a land grid array(LGA) chip 5 with a circuit substrate such as a printed circuit board(PCB) 6. The LGA connector 1 comprises a connector body 2, a metal clip3 pivotally mounted to the connector body 2, and a load lever 4 engagedwith the connector body 2.

The connector body 2 comprises an insulative main portion 23 defining anopening (not labeled) in a middle thereof. A metallic frame attached tothe main portion 23, includes a first end portion 21, a second endportion 22 opposite to the first end portion 21, and a side portion 24interconnecting the first end portion 21 and the second end portion 22.The main portion 23 defines a plurality of passageways 230 arranged in arectangular array, for receiving a plurality of conductive terminals(not shown) therein. The first end portion 21 defines a pair of spacedpivot apertures 210. The second end portion 22 defines a receivinggroove 220. A curved projection 240 protrudes from the side portion 24adjacent the first end portion 21, for hooking the load lever 4.

The clip 3 is pivotally mounted to the first end portion 21 of theconnector body 2, and comprises a main body 34 defining an opening (notlabeled) in a middle thereof. A pair of spaced, curved pivot latches 31extends from a rear end of the main body 34, corresponding to the pivotapertures 210 of the first end portion 21. A hook portion 32 extendsfrom an opposite front end of the main body 34. A pair of opposite sideplates 33 depends from opposite sides of the main body 34 respectively,for pressing the LGA chip 5 on the connector body 2.

Referring also FIGS. 3 and 4, the load lever 4 comprises a pair of pivotaxles 41 having an offset pressing portion 42 therebetween, anoperational arm 43 extending from an end of one of the pivot axles 41,and an operational portion 44. The operational portion 44 comprises aU-shaped bending portion 441 bending from a distal end of theoperational arm 43, and a handle 442 extending from a distal end of thebending portion 441 and being parallel to the operational arm 43. Thus,when the connector 1 is in a closed state, a distance between the handle442 and the PCB 6 is greater than a distance between the operational arm43 and the PCB 6. The pivot axles 41 are pivotably received in receivinggroove 220 of the second end portion 22 of the connector body 2. Thepressing portion 42 can fix or release the hook portion 32 of the clip 3by means of an operator (not shown) manually operating the handle 442 ofthe load lever 4. The clip 3 can thereby fasten the LGA chip 5 on theconnector body 2, or release the LGA chip 5 from the connector body 2.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, in use, the LGA connector 1 isfirstly arranged to be in an open state. The clip 3 is orientedperpendicular to the connector body 2 in a first position. The lever 4is oriented in a first position, with the pressing portion 42 thereof ata highest location. Then the LGA chip 5 is put into the connector body 2so that it rests on the terminals in the connector body 2. Then, the LGAconnector 1 is adjusted to be in a closed state. The clip 3 is rotateddown to a horizontal second position, with the side plates 33 abuttingagainst the LGA chip 5. The lever 4 is rotated to a second position,with the pressing portion 42 thereof being engagingly retained in thehook portion 32 of the clip 3 and the operational arm 43 being hooked bythe projection 240 of the connector body 2. Thus, the LGA chip 5 isstably and securely fastened in the LGA connector 1. The LGA chip 5 iselectrically connected with the terminals of the connector body 2, andis accordingly electrically connected with the PCB 6.

Because the distance between the handle 442 and the PCB 6 is greaterthan that between the operational arm 43 and the PCB 6, an operationspace for operating the handle 442 of the lever 4 is increased. Thus,during operation of the LGA connector 1 from the open state to theclosed state, the operator can conveniently operate the handle 442 ofthe lever 4 without interfering with the PCB 6 or the connector body 2.This configuration prevents the operator's hand from being abraded orhurt.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present inventionhas been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes knownto persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the presentinvention are considered within the scope of the present invention asdefined in the appended claims.

1. An electrical connector for electrically connecting an electronicpackage with a circuit substrate, the electrical connector comprising: aconnector body fixed on the circuit substrate, the connector bodydefining a plurality of passageways receiving a plurality of terminalstherein; a clip pivotally mounted to the connector body; and a loadlever attached to the connector body, the load lever comprising anoperational arm and an operational portion extending from one end of theoperational arm, the operational portion comprising a handle parallel tothe operational arm; wherein when the connector is in a closed state, adistance between the handle and the circuit substrate is greater than adistance between the operational arm and the circuit substrate.
 2. Theelectrical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operationalportion comprises a generally U-shaped bending portion bending from anend of the operation arm, the handle extending from a distal end of thebending portion.
 3. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 2,wherein the load lever comprises a pair of pivot axles having a pressingportion therebetween and extending from an opposite end of theoperational arm.
 4. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 3,wherein the connector body comprises a first end portion, a second endportion opposite to the first end portion, and a side portioninterconnecting the first and second end portions.
 5. The electricalconnector as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second end portioncomprises a receiving groove for receiving the pivot axles of the loadlever.
 6. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 5, wherein thefirst end portion comprises a pair of spaced pivot apertures, and theside portion comprises a projection for hooking the load lever.
 7. Theelectrical connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the clip comprises apair of spaced pivot latches at one end thereof received in the pivotapertures of the connector body, and a hook portion at an opposite endthereof for receiving the pressing portion of the load lever.
 8. Anelectrical connector comprising: an insulative main portion with aplurality of contacts disposed therein, each of said contacts defining acontact portion upwardly extending out of an upper face of the mainportion; a metallic frame attached to the main portion and includingopposite end portions in a lengthwise direction and opposite sideportions in a transverse direction perpendicular to said lengthwisedirection; a clip mounted to one of said opposite end portions andpivotal about a first pivotal axis extending along said transversedirection with a distal end far away from said first pivotal axis; alever pivotally mounted to the other of said opposite end portions andpivotal about a second axis extending along said transverse direction,said lever including a pressing portion located adjacent to said secondpivotal axis for locking the clip, and an operation arm structureextending angled with said second pivotal axis and moveable in anup-and-down manner; wherein said one of the opposite side portionsfurther includes an engagement structure to lock the operation armstructure in a horizontal position when said pressing portion locks theclip in position; an operational portion comprising a handle parallel tothe operational arm; wherein when the connector is in a closed state, adistance between the handle and a circuit substrate is greater than adistance between the operational arm and the circuit substrate.
 9. Theelectrical connector as claimed in claim 8, wherein said operation armstructure further includes said operation portion located around adistal end thereof, and said operation portion is located not only moreoutwardly but also more upwardly than a main portion of the operationarm structure for easy accessibly operation.
 10. The electricalconnector as claimed in claim 9, wherein said operation portion is of aJ-shape.
 11. The electrical connector as claimed in claim 8, whereinsaid engagement structure is a projection.
 12. The electrical connectoras claimed in claim 11, wherein said operation arm structure isperpendicular to the said second axis.
 13. The electrical connector asclaimed in claim 11, wherein said operation arm structure is moved in avertical plane.